Kind of a general topic, but I've got a specific question in mind which might spur some discussion. Assuming we get more EU books in the future, regardless of what direction they head, what three Star Wars authors do you want to see write new book?_________________
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Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 4:09 pm

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Crash OverrideMaster

Joined: 22 Dec 2010Posts: 1962

This one is pretty easy for me: Matthew Stover, Jim Luceno, and Tim Zahn.

If I eliminate those, I'd say I'd like to see Greg Keyes and Mike Stackpole again, along with Paul Kemp.

Not a novel author, but I would be very interested to see Tom Veitch write Star Wars again as well.

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 4:20 pm

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WerehunterKnight

Joined: 08 Apr 2011Posts: 362

Zahn, Allston and Stackpole. I think I've enjoyed their books the best out of all of them. I also like how they introduce more non-force related aspects to Star Wars. I know there will always be Jedi in Star Wars, but I like some focus to be away from them from time to time.

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 4:44 pm

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GrandMasterMaster

Joined: 26 Aug 2011Posts: 628Location: Earth Jedi Temple

I'd like to see Christie Golden write some more. I loved Ascension, and it's nice to have a solid female presence among the writers. Also, she's only written 3 books so far, so if the current EU is left behind, she won't be quite as tied down by memories of her prior works as other authors._________________"But it was so artistically done."

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Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 7:45 pm

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Caedus_16Master

Joined: 15 Apr 2008Posts: 5438Location: Korriban

I'd actually like to see genre specific authors attack Sci-Fi/Fantasy stuff like Star Wars, with the new direction I think that there could be some crazy stuff brought on.

I'd like to see Dan Simmons, I'd like to see Grant Morrison attack the comics, I'd like to see George R.R. Martin hit the short stories, maybe even see someone like a gothic horror novel come to the universe, something insane.

This new stuff and possible EU reboot (most likely, almost 100% certain on it) could open the doors for so many different kinds of stories within one universe. We've had them attempt slasher horror and such recently, but maybe a large drama or a shock and awe book would be great._________________Perfection is a lifelong pursuit requiring sacrifice. The only way to get it quicker is to sacrifice the most.

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 8:12 pm

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WerehunterKnight

Joined: 08 Apr 2011Posts: 362

Christie Golden would have been my fourth choice. I've only read her Star Wars stuff, but I feel she gets the core concept that is important when writing Stars Wars novels.

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 8:32 pm

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Crash OverrideMaster

Joined: 22 Dec 2010Posts: 1962

I want a galactic scale Clancy-esque thriller like Hand of Thrawn again. Let loose the chains on Zahn! Stover is the best writer to have written in the SW galaxy, and I think Luceno gets the galaxy as well as anyone that isn't George Lucas.

It's been over a decade since Stackpole or Keyes have had any of their work published, and I miss Stackpole, and I'm curious to see what Keyes and Kemp could still do in the universe. I've enjoyed their respective three novels.

As for Veitch, I enjoy what he did with Dark Empire and Tales of the Jedi a lot, and I'd be curious to see his take on the Jedi after the prequels, even though he's publicly trashed them. It would be interesting to see if that would motivate him to do something better in the universe. Give him either a prose novel or comic miniseries in the Dawn of the Jedi universe, or unleash him on an untapped area of the timeline such as the Hundred-Year Darkness or the First Great Schism with Xendor and the Legions of Lettow, or even just an empty period of the Expansionist period to pick up with Tales of the Jedi with no preconceptions.

He more or less created the Sith as this obscure cult of dark side magicians, and that got taken over creatively -- which isn't a bad thing, mind you -- by Kevin J. Anderson with Exar Kun. He could probably come up with some interesting new villains in different time periods.

It would be interesting if Dark Horse revived the Tales of the Jedi line with a completely different time period and new Jedi with Veitch, and even if it became an anthology type series where each story arc is in a different time period of Jedi, with popular arcs seeing sequel arcs down the line.

And this is to say, while there may be some pruning to the EU, Caedus, I don't think we need to worry about the stuff before the films being affected.

Out of the current list of writers, Allston almost definitely. Stover, certainly, as well as Kemp and JJM. Golden, I would tentatively add. I've only read her FOTJ books, and I don't think it entirely fair to base my opinion on those books alone - part of the reason I was tentatively looking forward to her Sword trilogy. If only to see how she fairs, I'd keep her on. Denning, I wouldn't mind keeping on, as long as he takes a step back. Karpyshyn, I wouldn't mind seeing around, though I'm not too fussed, either way.

I can't really recommend any authors who haven't written SW, I'm not a big sci-fi fan._________________I am a Star Wars fan. That doesn't mean that I hate or love Jar Jar. That doesn't mean I hate or love Lucas, or agree or disagree 100% with him. That doesn't mean I prefer the PT over the OT, or vice versa. That doesn't mean I hate the EU, or even love all of it (or even read all of it). These are not prerequisites. Being a man is not a prerequisite. Being a geek is not a prerequisite. The only prerequisite is that I love something about Star Wars. I am a Star Wars fan.

Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 11:40 am

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CerrineaMaster

Joined: 09 Jun 2009Posts: 1491

I'm going to reserve part of my answer until after Kevin Hearne's Luke Skywalker book comes out. I've got a feeling about that book based on what Hearne's done with his Iron Druid Chronicles. He writes a young hero very well and with a lot of humor. His world building is exceptional and he knows his Star Wars.

After reading Kenobi, imo JJM is right up there with the best in the EU.

I've also read Razor's Edge so Martha Wells goes on my list.

For comic book writers, John Ostrander really puts out good stories, and DOTJ is one of my all time favorties. Hardman and Bechko are also doing a good job with Legacy 2. It has a "true" Star Wars feel to it.

I firmly believe we're going to get an EU reboot. It makes we wonder how well writers like Allston and Stackpole could work without their pet characters, because I do not foresee a lot of EU characters surviving intact. I also have a hard time getting past Stackpole Gary Stu-ing Corran Horn all the time. I like Corran so much better when someone else writes him.

Idk about Zahn. He's really married to his EU creations like Mara and Thrawn. Idk how well he can write Star Wars without them. although Scoundrels was a fun romp, I wouldn't put it up there with the best of Star Wars EU.

With the exception of Luceno -- even though I thought Plageuis was a giant snorefest -- I think the new EU would be in better hands with fresher eyes and newer voices. I think I'd go with the newer authors like Kemp (loved his duology), JJM, Wells, Bechko and Hardman and (possibly) Hearne.

And then there's Stover. He can write Star Wars, any era as far as I'm concerned.
_________________Roqoo Depot co-founder.

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 12:54 am

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Crash OverrideMaster

Joined: 22 Dec 2010Posts: 1962

I forgot about John Jackson Miller on account of the majority of his work being in comics. Picking just 3 is tough.

Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 3:53 pm

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ReepicheepMaster

Joined: 05 Feb 2008Posts: 7925Location: Sailing into the unknown

Hmm... three authors. Kemp and Stover, for sure. I guess Allston would be the third. I've always enjoyed his writing.

I'm not in any hurry to read more Denning or Luceno though._________________
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Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 6:45 pm

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Caedus_16Master

Joined: 15 Apr 2008Posts: 5438Location: Korriban

Aw I like Luceno..._________________Perfection is a lifelong pursuit requiring sacrifice. The only way to get it quicker is to sacrifice the most.

Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 6:46 pm

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HogyMaster

Joined: 14 Dec 2011Posts: 951Location: Nar Shaddaa

Just three? In an uncertain future (assuming this means after E.VII) Not fair.
So who could write a SW story from a blank sheet? imo: Stover, Kemp and JJM.

My list would be different if we had an E.7 reboots everythink/EU stays the same options.

Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 6:50 pm

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Crash OverrideMaster

Joined: 22 Dec 2010Posts: 1962

Reepicheep will change his mind on Luceno after he reads The Unifying Force, I think.